Pocket-supporter for billiard-tables



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC,

J. E. CAME AND S. HAVENS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

POCKET-SUPPORTER FOR BILLIARD-TABLES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,548, dated June 15, 1858.

Y wh ich- Figure l, denotes a top view of one of our improved pocket supporters. F ig. 2, is a top vlew of the metallic part of one of our improved pocket supporters as provided with the elastic guard and ball dropper. Fig. 3, is a transverse section of the whole as completed.

The nature of our invention consists in arranging on the inner curved surface of the metal pocket supporter and between such and its leather cover, a thick strip of vulcanized india rubber, or its equivalent such being to facilitate the pocketing of a billiard ball as well as to prevent the ball from being injured. Those who are in the habit of playing billiards, well know that it is often the case, that when a billiard ball is driven forward with great velocity toward a pocket, instead of entering the pocket, itwill strike against the pocket supporter and rebound so as to fall back upon the table, and not enter the pocket, such arising from the metal of the supporter presenting too indurated a .surface to the blow of the ball. The elasticity of the ivory of which the ball is composed is free to act to reverse the motion of the ball, whereas, were the ball to strike against a surface suiiiciently yielding, there would not be time for such to react on the ball before the latter would drop from it, consequently, the ball would not rebound but drop into the pocket. Furthermore, the mode of simply covering the pocket supporter with a thin piece of leather aords little or no protection to the ball, as the covering soon becomes worn through or so indented as to cause the ball to come in contact with the metal and be injured thereby.

In the drawings, A, denotes the 4pocket supporter' as made of iron or metal and with a long recess a, in its inner edge, such recess being for the reception of a strip, 7), of vulcanized india rubber which may be from one eighth to a quarter of an inch in thickness and of a breadth equal to the thickness of the supporter. After the strip has been placed -in the recess so as to extend from end to end of it and be arranged in it as shown in Fig. 2, the whole, (that is, the

supporter and strip) is to be covered with a piece, c, of leather or other proper material which will serve to keep the strip in place. The strip also operates to prevent injury to the said leather by the ball when the former is struck by the latter, but, although, the elastic strip operates to keep the leather in shape, to prevent its wear and also to prevent the ball from being injured, its great and principal advantage is to be lfoulnd in facilitating the pocketing of the )al IVe are aware that it is not new to apply a cushion to a surface to protect such from injury. Therefore, we do not claim such, no1' do we claim the application of elastic lc)ushions to the guards of a billiard table,

IV hat we do claim as our invention, is-

The arrangement of a strip of vulcanized rubber, or its equivalent along the inner edge of the pocket supporter and between the same and its leather covering, the same being for the object and purposes as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our signatures.

JOHN E. CAME. SIMEON HAVENS. Witnesses: 

